College Baseball Finals – Eastern Mennonite 7–6, Guilford 2–5

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Eastern Mennonite University’s Zach Roberts scored the game-winning run in the 12th inning of game two as Guilford College dropped a Saturday afternoon Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader to Eastern Mennonite. The Royals claimed game one, 7-2, and the nightcap, 6-5, in 12 innings.

Game one starting pitcher Parks Smithey struck out four in the first two innings, including a stretch where he fanned three consecutive batters. A Logan Jones single with one out in the bottom of the second inning put the Quakers on the board as Guilford placed runners on first and second base. Patient Royals bats produced two runs in the top of the fourth inning as Eastern Mennonite only produced one hit in an inning where the Royals drew four walks. Both sides traded a run apiece in the eighth inning as the Royals produced three hits in the top half of the inning while the Quakers loaded the bases on the first three at-bats of the bottom half of the frame. The Royals pulled away in the top of the ninth inning with a four-run rally as Eastern Mennonite tallied four hits, including a lead-off triple from Griffin Stanley, to secure the win

Guilford claimed a 2-1 lead after four innings of game two before the Royals rallied for four unanswered runs in the next two innings. Guilford’s three-run sixth inning propelled the Quakers back into the contest as Andrew Brann knocked a pinch-hit, two-out triple to the center field wall to cap the rally and answer Eastern Mennonite’s two-run rally one half-inning earlier. The Quakers held the Royals to just four at-bats in each inning over the next three innings and threatened in the bottom of ninth inning with runners in scoring position with two out, but Royals reliever Joe Hall induced a ground out to send the contest to extra innings. After two tight innings, Roberts scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch as the Royals secured the victory.

Rocco Wilcox led the Quakers at the plate, batting six-for-ten with four hits in game two. Chuck Noble tallied four hits over the afternoon with three coming in the first game where he picked up a double. Brett Shapcott added three hits and a stolen base over the afternoon.

Roberts led the Royals with three RBI in game one while Adam Marston tallied three hits over the afternoon.

Smithey (1-7) claimed the loss in game one striking out five and walking six in a seven and one-third inning effort. Chase Shurford (2-3) took the loss in game two throwing five innings of relief where he gave up just one run on four hits while striking out two batters.

Kyle Armstrong (3-2) took the game one win in a seven-inning effort where he struck out three batters. Joe Hall claimed a two-inning save, his fifth of the season, where he struck out two. The Royals’ bullpen threw six and one-third innings scoreless to close the game, led by Jimmy Miller (1-0) who claimed the win by throwing the final two innings.

The Quakers travel to Roanoke College Wednesday for a 6 p.m. ODAC contest.